Report: There is ‘tension’ at SNL over Dave Chappelle hosting upcoming episode

Page Six reported some alleged controversy behind the scenes at Saturday Night Live this week over an upcoming show slated to be hosted by embattled comedian Dave Chappelle.

Chappelle, who has made headlines in the last year for disparaging comments he made in his comedy specials about transgender people, is scheduled to host the long-running sketch comedy show along with musical guest Black Star on Saturday night’s episode.

After the show announced Chappelle’s appearance on Twitter, rumors of backstage tensions began to swirl.

Page Six reports that some of the show’s writers are so offended by Chappelle hosting the show that they have threatened to boycott writing for this week’s episode. Some of the writers are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and say Chappelle’s comments about the trans community should be condemned.

One writer, Celeste Yim, posted on their Twitter account about SNL’s plans to have Chappelle host this week’s episode.

“I’m trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned,” Yim wrote.

Chappelle’s representatives say they have not witnessed a writer boycott while working at Saturday Night Live this week, and reported the writers seemed “excited” to work on Chappelle’s part in the sketches.

Page Six, which first reported the boycott rumors, said a source close to SNL told them, “[The writers are] not going to do the show. But none of the actors are boycotting.”

The episode is set to air on Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. Eastern.